Use > Server patching > Patch management for Unix > Patch uninstallation

Patch uninstallation

SA provides granular control over how and under what conditions Unix patches are uninstalled (removed) from managed servers. To minimize problems, you can only uninstall one patch at a time. You cannot use SA to uninstall a patch that was not installed using SA.

To help you optimally manage these conditions, SA allows you to do the following:

  • Manage server reboot options, and pre and post installation scripts.
  • Simulate (preview) a patch uninstallation.
  • Set up email notifications to alert you about the status of the uninstallation process.

The Uninstall Patch window guides you through setting up these conditions.

Uninstall Patch window

Uninstallation flags

You can specify uninstallation flags that are applied whenever a Unix patch is uninstalled. However, Server Automation also uses default uninstallation flags and requires that patches are uninstalled with these flags. You must therefore be certain that you do not specify any uninstallation flags that override or contradict the default flags passed by Server Automation.

The following table lists the default uninstallation flags that Server Automation uses.

Default uninstallation flags

Operating System/Patch Types

Flags

AIX

-u -g -X

AIX Reject Options

-r -g -X

HP-UX

None

Uninstalling a patch

To remove a patch from a managed server:

  1. In the navigation pane, select Library and then select Patches.
  2. Expand the Patches and select a specific Unix operating system.
  3. In the content pane, select a patch.
  4. From the View drop-down list, select Servers.
  5. From the Show drop-down list, select Servers with Patch Installed.
  6. In the preview pane, select one or more servers.
  7. From the Actions menu, select UninstallPatch.

    The first step of the Uninstall Patch window appears: Servers. For instructions on each step, see the following sections:

    After you have completed a step, select Next to advance to the next step. Before you click Start Job, you can return to a completed step to make changes by clicking on it in the list of steps.

  8. When you are ready to launch the uninstallation job, select Start Job.

    After you launch the job, you cannot change its parameters, even if the job is scheduled to run at a later time.

    If the Uninstall Patch window remains open until the job completes, SA updates the Patch Compliance column in the All Managed Servers window with the revised compliance count (in parenthesis) for affected servers. Press F5 or select Refresh from the View menu to update information in the patch preview pane.